"Chuck E.'s in Love" is a song by American singer-songwriter

Rickie Lee Jones Rickie Lee Jones (born November 8, 1954) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and author. Over the course of a career that spans five decades, she has recorded in various musical styles including rock, R&B, pop, soul, and jazz. A two ...

. Released in 1979 on her eponymous debut album ''

'', the song became her biggest hit, reaching number 4 on the ''Billboard'' U.S. Hot 100 list. "Chuck E.'s in Love" is track 1 on Side One of the ''Rickie Lee Jones'' LP, on which it runs 3 minutes and 28 seconds. It is Side A on the single; the B-side is "On Saturday Afternoon in 1963".

Inspiration

Jones and her lover/fellow songwriter

Tom Waits Thomas Alan Waits (born December 7, 1949) is an American musician, composer, songwriter, and actor. His lyrics often focus on the underbelly of society and are delivered in his trademark deep, gravelly voice. He worked primarily in jazz during ...

spent a lot of time hanging out with their friend

Chuck E. Weiss Charles Edward Weiss (March 18, 1945 – July 20, 2021) was an American songwriter and vocalist. A fixture on the Los Angeles scene, Weiss was known for an eclectic mix of blues, beat poetry, and rock and roll. His music included strains of every ...

at the seedy Tropicana Motel in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world ...

. Eventually Weiss, affectionately referred to as "Chuck E.", disappeared. Later Weiss called the apartment where Jones and Waits lived. When Waits took the call, Weiss explained that he was in

Denver Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...

, and that he had moved there because he had fallen in love with a cousin there. When Waits hung up he announced to Jones, "Chuck E.'s in love". Jones liked the sound of the sentence and wrote a song around it. Although toward the end of "Chuck E.'s in Love" the lyrics state, "Chuck E.'s in love with the little girl singing this song," the twist ending is fictional; Jones was never the girl with whom Chuck E. was in love.Gavin Richard, ''Is Tiny Dancer Really Elton's Little John?: Music's Most Enduring Mysteries, Myths, and Rumors Revealed'' Three Rivers Press, 2006, pp. 138-139.

Chart history

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

External links

Lyrics of this song
* {{authority control Songs about musicians 1979 songs 1979 debut singles Song recordings produced by Lenny Waronker Song recordings produced by Russ Titelman Warner Records singles Songs written by Rickie Lee Jones